Early Police Department received a report of a reckless driver in an 18-wheeler traveling on Early Blvd. toward Brownwood on Tuesday. Officers located the truck in the 200 block of Early Blvd. and observed the truck driving unsafe, according to Early Police Chief David Mercer. Officers stopped the truck near Belle Plain and Market Place Blvd.
According to the report, the driver was nervous and unable to answer questions properly about his truck and the route. Officers developed probable cause to look in the truck and they were able to located a meth pipe lying beside the seat along with a blow torch used for heating the pipe and a bag of methamphetamine on the floor that the driver tried to hide in the gear shift cover, the report states.
The meth weighed approximately 1.5 grams, according to EPD officials. The driver refused to comment about the last time he smoked meth; however, the burnt residue appeared fresh, according to the report. As a result of this stop, the driver, identified as 50-year-old Patrick Anthony Lee from Bastrop, Texas, was placed under arrest, charged with manufacture delivery of a controlled substance penalty group 1 greater than or equal to 1 gram less than 4 grams and taken to the Brown County Jail.“This case is a classic example of why we need the public to call when they see a suspicious circumstance or a reckless driver,” EPD Chief David Mercer stated. “The driver of this 18-wheeler could have hurt someone had it not been for someone calling in and reporting the actions of the driver and assisted the officers in getting the truck off the road.”
In other unrelated law enforcement arrests and reports released Wednesday, July 6, 2016.
Sunday, July 3
*3:21 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the area of Magnolia Street and Austin Avenue regarding a suspicious situation. According to the report, the driver of a vehicle was passed out at the intersection. The driver, identified as 30-year-old Brody Tyler Byrd, was given standardized field sobriety tests and as a result of the stop arrested for driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2A. A warrant for a blood draw was obtained and a sample of the Byrd’s blood was obtained at Brownwood Regional Medical Center.
Tuesday, July 5
*2:31 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 700 block of Almond Street regarding an assault.
*6:20 PM – A Brown County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Main Street in Blanket regarding the theft of tools. According to the report, the property owner advised that a known subject had stolen numerous tools from the house that he had been working on for the complainant.
*A Brown County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a red Ford Ranger pickup at Avenue G and Main Street in Blanket, Texas for failure to signal a right turn. According to the report, during the stop the driver was identified as 33-year-old Clayton Johanson of Blanket, Texas who gave consent to search the vehicle. During the search of the pickup, multiple items of drug paraphernalia were located along with 0.7 grams of methamphetamine with packaging and 0.6 grams of marijuana without packaging, the report states. The deputy had observed Johanson at the intersection of Main Street and N. Broadway in Blanket, within 1000 feet of an outdoor playground open to the public, the report states. Johnason was arrested and charged for the possession of the marijuana less than 2 ounces and the possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 less than 1 gram in a drug free zone.
*The Brownwood City Marshal arrested 32-year-old Keith Allen Hall of Early, Texas on a warrant related to assault family violence – occlusion. Hall was later released on $10,000 bond.
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33-year-old Martin Pierce Knowles of Brownwood on a warrant related to motion to revoke/aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 37-year-old Mitze Gayle McCutchen of Zephyr on a Taylor County warrant related to motion to revoke/theft. McCutchen was being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond as of Wednesday morning.
*46-year-old Jessie John Noriega of San Angelo turned herself in on a warrant related to motion to adjudicate/engage in organized criminal activity. Noriega was later released on $50,000 bond.
*The Brownwood City Marshal arrested 24-year-old Bryan Dee Penn II of Brownwood on a warrant related to failure to appear.
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 58-year-old Nathan Elmer Weverka of Bangs on a warrant related to failure to register as sex offender.
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year-old Melvin Christopher Young of Brownwood on a warrant related to two counts of aggravated assault causes serious bodily injury. Young was being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Wednesday, July 6
*12:17 AM – Brownwood Police made a traffic stop in the 300 block of Center Avenue. This stop led to the arrest of 30-year-old Veronica Burgin of Early, Texas, for manufacture delivery of a controlled substance penalty group 1 equal or greater than 1 gram less than 4 grams in a drug free zone.
*Brownwood Police arrested 47-year-old Michael Kevin Phillips of Brownwood on a warrant related to driving while intoxicated.
All arrestees are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Blotter information compiled from local law enforcement jail records.
